Portland, Or 7-25-08 Wonder Ballroom

[Idlehanz]

I'm gonna keep it short shortish  long, as it's pretty late.

     Compared to the last few days of shows, tonights kicked ass.  I did not film, as MrKilgore was, and I wanted to properly see a show for the first time in three years.  I stood directly in front of Buzz, 2nd person back for the whole set.  Well, kind of.  I got knocked around a lot, and my position changed 5 feet to every side, but for the most part, that's where I was. I got my ass kicked, banged my head for a good hour 45 ( incl. BB ) and walked out sweaty as hell.  And I couldn't have been happier. 

     Morningstar Rising started off, but with Dale on drums.  He got a huge cheer when he came out, and he slayed.  Weird noises all around from Tosh and Moss, and Dales bigger than life drumbeats made a wonderfull 20 minutes and the crowd loved it.

     Biz was monsterous, as the sound system at the Wonder was top notch, and you could tell they were all having fun and we got the usual Jared banter.  The new stuff got a good reception, and 'Big John' and the song where tosh plays the slide guitar really stood out.  I know some peoploe aren't to high on Toshi being a member of BB now, but his guitar playing is great.  Especially on that slide guitar tune.  Of which I don't know the name yet.

     When the Melvins took the stage, it was a huge reception.  Same setlist, but the crowd welcomed every song like a long lost child.  The new stuff killed, but when the got to Eye Fly's, and Jared started the bass part, the moshing went into overdrive.  Just from the bass line!  Add the drums and Dales and Coady's maniacal speed during that intro and it was on.  It was on really from the start, but it really kicked in after that.  Tipping the Lion caught some off guard, but when followed by Honeybucket, it was pandemonium.  Right before Honeybucket, Buzz took a second to remind us that "We're all friends, but once you get on the stage, we are enemies".  The song before a kid (  a KID, maybe 10 years old)  got on stage and got tossed and crowd surfed so well that Jared had a big smile on his face as he watched him.  It was a cool moment.  Buzz also at one point after a song stopped and announced to a little dweeb in front that " There is no texting on the stage"!  Dork was on his phone a lot of the show.  Oh yea, during one of the earlier songs, some dude got on stage, and got thrown off so hard that he landed in the crowd upside down and kind of bounced/got tossed back up again and hit the floor hard.  Crowd laughed their asses off.  At least down front.  My Generation got a good welcome.  After the first line of the song, most knew what it was and sang along with the rest of it.  That was really cool.  The best moment though of course was Boris.  Buzz hitting that first note after the SSB, and the subsequent notes got everyone so riled, the pit expanded massively.  From where I was, I could see all these faces light up as everyone realized that the show wasn't over and they were getting to hear Boris live.  Fuh. King. Nuts. 

     Like I said, I hadn't been in the crowd for a show in almost three years.  I needed a night off from taping, and knowing it was covered, I could enjoy it.  And christ did I.  It was like an orgasm, and chocolate chop cookie, and my first X trip all rolled into one.  I will suffer from the long lost 'bangover' in the morning, but holy fuck, thank god the Melvins are keeping me young.

An as far as merch, I got myself a pair of Dales gloves, both autographed.  I got to see John ( 06 tour merch guy, he remembered you Sweet! ) and BS'd with him for a while.  Buzz's padre and niece were there too.  Buzz did say at one point" I don't say thanks very mch, but thank you for coming".  Or something like that.  I'm gonna go try to sleep now.  Probably an impossible mission.  I can't wait for the Showbox show tomorrow.

[black stallion]

An as far as merch, I got myself a pair of Dales gloves, both autographed. 

[blacksanta]

Nice review hanz. Moshing during Eye Flies?  That's akin to slowly flailing about in quicksand. Damn, wish I coulda been there. I gotta some calls from friends after the show giving me a good razz about missing out, said it was just the best they have ever seen the band play.

[M i C H e L L e]

I got to see John ( 06 tour merch guy, he remembered you Sweet! ) and BS'd with him for a while. 

Awww, Good ol' John, best Merch man EVEr!  He said he'd be at the NW shows,  If you see him tonight, tell him I said hi!!!!    

[bUTTHOLEmAN]

"We're all friends, but once you get on the stage, we are enemies"
" I don't say thanks very mch, but thank you for coming"

Woah!! 

Sounds like a great show where everything clicked and fell into place.   Thanks for writing that!

[Idlehanz]

I got to see John ( 06 tour merch guy, he remembered you Sweet! ) and BS'd with him for a while. 

Awww, Good ol' John, best Merch man EVEr!  He said he'd be at the NW shows,  If you see him tonight, tell him I said hi!!!!    

He'll be there, I'll tell him you said hello.

[gesundheit]

awesome review man...although the dale experience in morningstar rising seemed epic, i am glad to have witnessed his daughter "jam" with those guys..

[Introvert]

I gotta some calls from friends after the show giving me a good razz about missing out, said it was just the best they have ever seen the band play.

Last night was my 17th or 18th time seeing them and it was definitely in my top 3 sets I've seen them do.

Now I just need to figure out this damn Flip Camera that I have so I can upload the bits of video I got.

[Anticlimactic]

Hello!  First post here.  I've been reading really good reviews, including this one.  Thanks and keep 'em coming!

[Smellis]

I was in front of Buzz just to the right of Idle. There were far less drunken idiots at this show than the following night at the Showbox. First time at Wonder Ballroom, top notch venue I must say. Buzz's mom was parked next to me for a good part of the show, he had lots of family there. The Morningstar/PORN noise set was phenominal. They could just do a whole show of that and it would be cool, Dale tore it up, Tim was heavy as hell and Toshi was killer with all the weird noise stuff. As far as Melvins shows go, this was about as perfect of a show as you could ever get. Venue was great, crowd was cool, band kicked major ass. Hooray.   

[deatheats]

An awesome show as everyone else has already noted above.   I would have to say it looked to me like Buzz was really having a good time up there.  The only downside is that Jared's voice was giving him some problems so his vocals weren't quite as loud as he would have liked.

Just a couple of side notes.   Brian Walsby was present giving out "one-offs" he had done for the show (As you may have seen in other threads, e.g. mafia melvins).  I picked up one of these, it's got the next Melvins album title "Rainbow of Sabbath"  along with Jared holding a bong, pot smoke filling the air and at the bottom says, "Stoner Rock is for Pussies"  The wife and I really wanted the Big Business tshirt with the military medals on the front but after about 5 minutes of Walsby searching for us he realized they must have been sold out. 

A couple of my friends own a bbq restaurant right down the street from the venue and they told me yesterday that Buzz stopped by for a bite to eat prior to the show.  My friend was like who is this Sideshow Bob character?  One of the younger bus boys recognized him and let her know.    I knew I should have gone in for some ribs.

[Smellis]

I met Coady and Moss coming out of that place and talked to Coady a bit. Then I went in and had a brew on the outdoor patio. The food looked awesome but I did not partake.

[deatheats]

I am a bit biased, but they have really good food if you ever get the chance.  Also as you noticed they have some really great beer on tap. 

[Smellis]

Yeah I had the EG, don't know who makes it but it was great. Killer venue with an awesome BBQ joint up the street in a good neighborhood. Great place to see Melvins for sure.

[Idlehanz]

A couple of my friends own a bbq restaurant right down the street from the venue and they told me yesterday that Buzz stopped by for a bite to eat prior to the show.  My friend was like who is this Sideshow Bob character?  One of the younger bus boys recognized him and let her know.    I knew I should have gone in for some ribs.

Russell Street BBQ?  That's some good shit.  Ate there before the show.